Tube frame control for axminster looms



March 1932. w. w. ROBERTSON 1,347,627

TUBE FRAME CONTROL FOR AXMINSTER LOOMS Filed Dec. 5, 1929 I'll! 1 IIIIIII.

.[NVENTDR WM. W HUBER 7'50/v A7T0RNEY5 Patented Mar. 1, 1932 UNITED STATES WILLIAM w. nonERrson, or WORCESTER,

& KNOWLES LOOIYLWORKS, OE MASSACHUSETTS MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR ro oaomrrorr WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION" OF TUBE mus CONTROL ron .exirmsrm Looms Application med December This invention relates to improvements in Axminster looms and it is the general object of the invention to provide means to prevent relative movement of the tube frame with 5 respect to its operating clutch after the latter has moved into disconnect the tube frame from the transporting chain and thusprev'ent low rows of piles.

' Axminster looms usually operate with a pair of spaced transporting chains between which extend a series of tube frames. carrying spools of variously colored pile yarns. These tube frames are presented to active position one at a time and are detached from the chains by a pair of transfer arms, one on each side of the loom. The arms carry clutches having pockets or seatsin which the tube frames may rest, and thearms are moved by cams to lower the tube frame'to present them to "cloth forming position.

It occasionally happens that for one reason or another the tube frame will not become detached from its chain quickly enough to permit the same'to move down instantly'with its clutch, with the result that one or' both ends of the tube frame will be raised. The arm moves through a fixed path so that the tube frame will not-reach as low a point as it should. In the subsequent formation of tufts the lower end of'the' pile yarn extending from the tube frame forms one sideof the U-shaped tuft, and if this end of the yarn starts from too high a position 'it is unable when combed into position toreach its proper level, thus causing. low piles. If the tube frame sticks at both ends the low pilewill extend across the rug, but if only one-end sticks and the other end is properly released, the low pileswill start at one side and will side being of the required height;

It is an important object of my present invention-to establish such connections between the clutches'and the tube frame as will prevent the latter from havingupward movement relatively to. the clutch. If .for; any reason the tube frame cannot be detached from the chain the inability of-the transferrer arms to descendwill bring about loom stoppage through well-known mechanism.

gradually disappear,-'the piles of the othe 5,1929. s rial No. 411,933.

1F igr 1 is'avifront'elevation of a portion of I a tubeframe and clutch made. according to the preferred form ofany: present invention i with the partsin the position they assume just PIIOI" to-engagement of the'clutch with .the tube frame,

5 Fig. 2 is aview .tain partslshownin-section and with the interen gaging. portions effective to prevent relative vertical motion of the clutch and tubeframe,.'

Fig; 3is a fragmentary perspective view of the'clutch shown in Fig. 1, i

Fig. 4 is an end elevation on a reduced scale taken in the direction of arrow 4, Fig. 1 show ing the supportand operating rod for the clutch, q

T Figroisa view similar to a portion of Fig. 2 but showing amodified form of the invention, and i I I Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the end of the tube frame such as shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to F igs. 1 to 4, where the preferred form: of the invention .is shown, I have illustrated a transporting chain 10 movable. on'sprocketsone of which is designated, at 11. The chain is provided with double links between which extends the ten e l-2of a tube frame, bracket 13. A hoo 14 may be pivotally mounted on one of the=chain elements and have holding engagement- .with. a portion of. the bracket'as-set forth 'inFigu, 1: My invention is not limited to any particular form of hook. a

The tube frame 15 maybe formed of a hollow rectangular tubular bar having secured similar a. Fig. 1 with as.

thereto the horizontal, parallel arms 16 and 17: of the bracket 13. Thearm 16 may if desired be integral with a spool bearing 18 onw'vhioh is mounted the yarn carryingspool 19,; while the fother'arm maybe integral with the chain engagingfinger ll I .The clutch which cooperates with the tube frame'is shown at 20 and comprises a vertical body 21 from the lower portion of which extends a lifting lip 22 having an inwardly and downwardly curved camming surface 23. The clutch is further'provided with a supporting stud 24: extending through a carrier Or transfer arm 25 as shown in Fig. 4. A second stud 26 is pivotally connected to a rocking rod 27 effective when the tube frame is in lowered or cloth forming position to rock the tube frame and clutch around the stud 24: as an axis. Side wings 28 form with the lip 22 a pocket for the tubeframe'.

In carrying my present invention into effeet I provide interengaging connections between the clutch and the tube frame effective to prevent improper positioning of the tube frame and clutch,and in the preferred. form of the invention I provide the. body, of the clutch with a lug 30 which may project centrally between the side wings 28. I also provide the bracket 13 with an opening-31 proportioned to receive the lug 30.' The distance from the bottom'of the tube:frame to the bottom of the opening 31 is approximate .ly the same asthe distance from the bottom supporting portion of the lipdesignated at 32 in Fig. 3 to the bottom of the lug."

' In the modified "form of the invention set forth in Figs. 5 and'6 I form a lug 40 onthe bracket of the tube frame and form the clutch 'motion. I -ating parts 'of' the loom which controls a with a pocket 41.- In this instance the distance between the bottom of the tube frame and the top of the lug 40 =is substantiallyithe 1 same as the distance between the top Wall of the pocket and the lip 22.

In operation, the clutch will be moved in toward the tube frame and engage the head of a depending hook 14 to move the same out of holding engagement with the bracketafter the camming lip 22 has assed under the adjacent end of the tube f fame. The tube frame will move upwardly along the inclined surface 23 as the clutch continues its motion and in this Way entry of the lug 30 into the 0pening'31 or the lug 40 into the pocket 41 is effected. As previously described, the parts are so proportioned that the tube frame will be prevented from having *a'relative upward movement with respect to the clutch after thelatter has been given its complete inward It is tobe understood that theoperclutch do not start the downward movement of the latter until the clutch has substantially completed its motion toward the tube frame. In the operation of my invention there is no opportunity for the tube frame to become displaced relatively to the clutch in a vertical direction and it is'therefore impossible to form low rows of piles such as may be produced by existing forms of clutch and tube frame. I am aware that it has'be'en proposed heretofore to bring about stoppage of the loom if the tube frame fails to move theftube frame sticks in the chain.

of stop motion to which reference has been 7 down, this result being caused by cooperation between the clutch and the tube frame to hold the arm 25 in raised position. These previous constructions have been such as to permit an appreciable amount of downward motion on the partof the clutch in an attempt to dislodge the tube frame before the engagement referred to takes place. I Ifduring this short downward motion of the clutch the tube frame should become disengaged the latter will move toward the cloth in a somewhat tilted position.

From theforegoin'g'it will be seen that I have providedsimplemeans effective as soon as the clutch is properly positioned with respect to thetube'fraine and prior to its downward motion to prevent relative vertical motion between the tube frame and the clutch. It will also be seen that although my present invention is not aimed primarily to assist the stop motion referred to but not shown herein, yet-the lugs of either the preferred or modified form may act to effect loom stoppage if The form 'made is shown in prior patent to Streimer No. 1,54 ,685. 7 7 7 r p 1 Having thus described my invention it will be seenthat changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what Iclaimisz. J 7

' 1. In an Axminster loom provided with a clutch having first an inward and then a downward motion, a tube frame to be, en-

gaged by theclutch on the inward, movement of the latter and supported thereby during the downward motion of the clutch, and intereng'aging elements formed on the tube frame and clutch tocomplete apositive connection to prevent relative upward motion of the tube frame with respect to the clutch during any portion of the downward motion of-the clutch; Y

2; In an Axminster loom provided with a clutch having first an inward and'then a downward motion, a tube frame to be engaged by the clutch on the inward movement of the latter and supported thereby during the downward motion of the clutch, and interengaging: connections between the clutch and tube frameeffective upon completion of the inward motion of the clutch to prevent relative movement of the tube-frame andclutch positively in all directions, said connections coacting prior to the downward motion' of the clutch..

3. In an Axminste'r loom provided with a clutch having first an inward and then-a downward motion, a tube frame to be engaged'by the clutch on the inward movement of the latter and supported thereby during the downward motion of the clutch, interengaging connections between the clutch and tube frame which are brought into mutual engagement to form a positive connection between the clutch and tube frame during the inward motion of the clutch and become effective to prevent relative upward motion of the tube frame with respect to the clutch prior to the downward movement of the latter.

a. In an Axminster loom having a tube frame member adapted tobe moved from a supporting chain toward cloth forming position, a clutch member having an inward motion to release the tube frame from the chain and having a subsequent downward motion to move the tube frame toward cloth forming position, one of said members having an 0 ening therein, and a projectionextending rom the other member to enter the opening during the inward movement of the clutch member to establish prior to the downward movement of the clutch member such connection between the members as will prevent relative movement between them.

5. In an Axminster loom having a tube frame member adapted to be moved from a supporting chain toward cloth forming position, a clutch member having an inward motion to release the tube frame from the chain and having a subsequent downward motion to move the tube frame toward cloth forming position, a projection extending from one member movable into holding engagement with the other member during that motion of the clutch member which operates V to release the tube frame from the chain, to prevent relative vertical motion of the members before the beginning of that motion of the clutch which moves the tube frame toward cloth forming position. 7

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

WILLIAM W. ROBERTSON. 

